The Lost Key - Anecdotes from ‘The Conference of the Birds’

A Sufi heard a man cry out: 'Has anyone found a key? My door is locked and I stand in the dust of the road. If my door stays shut what shall I do?’ The Sufi said to him: 'Why do you worry? Since it is your door, stay near to it, even though it be shut. If you have patience to wait long enough no doubt someone will open it for you. Your situation is better than mine for I have neither door nor key. Would to God that I could find a door, open or shut.'
Man lives in a state of imagination, in a dream; no one sees things as they are.To him who says to you: 'Whatshall I do?' say to him: 'Do not do as you have always done; do not act as you have always acted.' He who enters the Valley of Astonishment has enough sorrow for a hundred worlds. For myself, I am bewildered and gone astray. Whither shall I direct my steps? Would to God I knew! But, remember; the groans of men bring down mercy.

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These narrations from Farid-ud-din Attar’s Magnum Opus, ‘Mantiq-ut-Tayr’, translated as The Conference of the Birds or The Canticle of the Birds in English, aim to espouse the marvel in a series of anecdotes to play a role in spreading this beautiful miracle of human imagination.

This is from C. S. Nott’s version which itself is a literal and direct translation into English from Gracin De Tassy’s French translation of Mantiq-ut-Tayr. Despite the fact that it is a second hand translation, C. S. Nott’s version can not be regarded as disengaging. I hope you enjoy this Episode wise Audiobook.

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